CH. 3 - Just Another Day (Part 2)

Tori’s POV

~Party~

When reaching the party, do I slowly begin to feel nervous. My hands gently clutching at the gifts I had brought with me. Gifts that I was still holding, each individually wrapped in a beautiful color paper. A rich green color for Alex, A beautiful blue for Zak and a deep velvety black for Jake.

Maybe... Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, I muse to myself, my eyes now scanning the area for my father or at least Jake, Zak or Alex. At least then I wouldn’t feel so nervous while being there. Sighing, I continued to enter the party, hoping none of the other kids would see me.

My eyes eventually spotting the table with all the birthday presents on them do I move to silently add mine to the vast pile of presents. Surprised by how much they were getting compared to all the birthdays I had and how little I always got.

Swallowing the small lump within my throat I try to push away the feeling of bitterness or of the fact that nobody within the pack cared enough to see me during my special day except for Jake, Zak and Alex. My eyes now spotting my father’s as he talks to Alpha Dawson.

Dad, come my thoughts.

Deciding that I should probably move to approach him I’m suddenly stopped by a small group of children. Fear stopping me right within my tracks as these were the same group of kids who always made it their personal mission to pick on me daily.

“What brings you here loser?” sneers one of the girls within the group. A girl who was no older than 12 as she stood among her little group of bullies. Her violet eyes shining with mischief like always.

“I was invited like always Lilyanna. Just like you” I move to counter, attempting to ignore her.

“Ha, Ya right. Face it, nobody here likes you. You’re nothing but a worthless creature. A runt. A runt who smells completely funny” laughs Lilyanna, her eyes never leaving mine as her long blonde hair frames her face nicely for a 12-year-old.

“I am not” I counter again, trying not to cry by her harsh words of reality.

“Are so” exclaims Lilyanna again as she then moves to shove me.

My small body now falling to the ground with a thud as they all begin to laugh at me. Finding humor in my pain. Feeling my bottom lip begin to quiver, I try to keep it together only to fail miserably at it.

“Aww... is the poor little baby going to cry now?” taunts Lilyanna with a laugh.

Resisting the urge to cry directly in front of her I almost let them fall only to stop when a voice suddenly moves to speak up from behind them, Lilyanna and her group all moving to see who it was that spoiled their fun.

“Leave him alone or else Lilyanna” remarks the voice. A voice I knew all too well as all our eyes now focus on one of three boys who managed to approach us as not many would dare address Lilyanna whenever I became her target, which was almost constant unless you were the Alpha himself.

“JAKE!” squeals Lilyanna as she now rushes to hug him, my eyes still locked on my future Alpha, Beta and Delta. Zak and Alex both standing close to Jake as they stand there watching the scene before them.

Embarrassment burning deep within me at being seen. A piece of me wondering at what they must think of their future Gamma being a push over.

“I said leave him alone and that’s final” snaps Jake, this time pushing her away from him.

Falling to the ground with a thud, Lilyanna moves to sniffle softly. “But Jake... Why? He’s nothing compared to me. He’s nothing but a worthless runt” rants Lilyanna only to shrink in fear when Zak moves to speak up next.

“Tori is not worthless! Nor is he a runt, he’s just different. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave him alone permanently.”

Trembling in fear does Lilyanna and her little group of friends move to leave quietly. Lilyanna standing only long enough to lock eyes with mine. Her gaze telling me that this wasn’t over but only the beginning before rushing off.

Once gone does Jake move to approach me. My tiny body still on the ground as he moves to offer me his hand. A hand in which I take as he moves to help me stand back up.

“You, okay?” asks Jake softly his hand still holding mine.

“Yea... Thanks to you” I mutter, not use to Jake, Zak or Alex always pinning over me like this. The feeling strange yet not uncomfortable either as my body could sense each of them without ever trying too.

“Are you sure?” asks Zak this time around, his eye arching silently towards me.

“I said yes” I reply, a little louder than intended. “Anyways, thanks... But I should probably go and check in with my dad now, so see ya Jake. See ya Zak, Alex.”

Turning to leave, I’m quick to dash off, my small frame great at escaping certain things and right now that was exactly what I needed to do, escape only pausing long enough to shout back to them.

“OH! And Happy Birthday! You each deserve nothing but the best” and then with that said I quickly flee, not waiting for them to reply back to me.

‘He seems charming’ chuckles a voice, a voice in which startles Jake.

‘What?’ questions Jake, Zak and Alex both watching their friend and future Alpha cautiously.

‘I said, he’s charming. Cute even. So, I suggest keeping a close eye on him going forward’ replies the voice once more.

‘And who are you exactly?’ asks Jake yet again.

‘I’m Vox, your wolf young Alpha’ chuckles Vox, amused by Jakes reaction to him.

‘You are?’

‘Yes. And Tori... He’s unique. You must always protect him no matter what. You and your friends. Their wolves Ash and Volt will see to it as well.’

‘Ash? Volt?’

‘Yes. Your Beta and Delta’s wolf. Now go. Enjoy your party. We shall be here if you need us’ is all Vox says to Jake, leaving the three of them more curious than anything else as they each move to head back towards the party. Each of their wolves hovering just below the surface awaiting the day they would shift.